Back to Boston ☘️

05/24/2023

By: Jeff Yoder

Celtics Clap Back, Stay Alive Against Heat With Game 4 Survival-Mode Performance (116-99)

Marcus Smart posted the bulletin-board material before Game 4 between the Celtics and Heat: “Don’t let us get one.” The mentality was simple. A change in momentum could easily remind the Celtics how much firepower they have on the roster, and Game 4 proved it. Miami controlled the first half of Game 4 with a series sweep on the line at home, but the Celtics outscored the Heat by 23 in the second half. After an abysmal shooting performance in Game 3, the Celtics shot above 50 percent in Game 4, including 40 percent from deep. Five players hit three or more 3s, and Jayson Tatum was back to his old self (33 points). The Heat didn’t shoot it well — just 25 percent from beyond the arc — and the difference in Game 4 was as simple as that. All signs still point to a Heat-Nuggets NBA Finals, but the Celtics “got one”…

Reminder: No team has ever won a series when trailing 3-0, but two of the final three Eastern Conference Finals games will be in Boston.

Tatum in Time: The Celtics’ superstar finally came through with another clutch performance — 33 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 blocks, and 1 steal. It was his sixth 30-10-5 game of the postseason.

Eastern Conference Finals

Gm 4: Celtics def. Heat (116-99) | MIA Leads (3-1)

Tonight: No NBA Playoff Games

CBS Sports: Celtics Come Alive, Force Game 5 in East Finals

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